Edward brandwood



(No Model.)

B. BRANDWOOD.

RAILROAD (moss TIE.

Patented Dec. 9, 1890.

I I l l l l I l I I l I l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDIVARD BRANDlVOOD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES G.CARSON, OF SAME PLACE.

RAILROAD CROSS-TIE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. &42,416, dated December9, 1890.

Application filed July 15, 1890- Serial No. 358,814. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD BRANDwooD, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Railroad Cross-Ties,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of certain improvements in the metallic cross-tieand fasteners for railroad-rails for which Letters Patent of the UnitedStates No. 206,647 were granted to Thomas \V. Travis on the th day ofJuly, 1878, the object of the invention being to provide for the readyremoval of the wooden clamp-supportin g blocks of the fasteners from 5the boxes of the tie. This object I attain in the manner hereinafter setforth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of myim- 20 proved railroad cross-tieand fastener. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, with the rail and itsfastening devices removed from one of the boxes of the tie. Fig. 3 is anenlarged plan view of one of said boxes and the clamp- 2 5 supportingblocks, the clamps being removed; and Fig. t is an enlarged perspectiveview of one of the rail-clamps.

The crosstie described in the above-mentioned patent of Thomas \V.Travis consisted 0 of a plate A, which served to connect a pair of boxesB, and the fastening devices for each rail consisted of a pair of clampsD D, embracing the flanges of the rail and having de pending portionsprojecting down into the box and having a bearing at their lower endsagainst a wedge a in the bottom of said box, the clamps being supportedupon opposite blocks F F of wood contained in the box.

In order that the cross-tie and its boxes may be firmly embedded in theballast of the roadway and securely retained thereby, I expand the tie Aat each end, so as to form a plate A, extending around the box 13 andhaving around its edges depending flanges A which form continuations ofthe depending flanges at the opposite edges of the central portion ofthe tie, so that the ballast may be packed firmly between these flangesand the box, the secure retention of the tie on the road-bed beingthereby insured. 5o

Owing to the heavy and repeated downward and outward thrusts to whichthe wooden clam p-supportin g blocks F are subjected, said blocks in theordinary Travis tie became so firmly seated in the boxes B that theremoval of the blocks when it was desired to replace the same was a verytedious matter, the blocks having to be picked to pieces before theycould be dislodged, so that the replacing of a set of blocks betweensuccessive trains was often impracticable. In order to overcome thisdefect, I flare the boxes 15 slightly from each end toward the center,as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the blocks F being likewise made slightlyflaring, so that when the rail-clamps 6 5 are removed from between theblocks the latter can be readily driven toward the center of the box,and thus loosened so as to be removed and replaced in a very short time.

An objection to the rail-clamps formerly used in connection with theTravis tie was a tendency to fracture at the outer end of the recess inthe clamp which received the flange of the rail, a sharp angle beingusually formed at that point. This objection I overcome by 7 forming anenlarged opening b at the outer end of the recess, as shown in Fig. I,so that the sharp angle at the outer end of the recess is avoided.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent- The combination of the rail-clamps and the cross-tiehaving clamp-receiving boxes flared from each end toward the center,with clamp- 8 5 supporting blocks adapted to said flared portions of theboxes, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDIVARD BRANDWOOD.

Witnesses:

EUGENE ELTERICH, HARRY SMITH.

